Emery Launches Fayetteville City Council Campaign

Emery

Emery

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

FAYETTEVILLE -- Mike Emery is the first person to announce candidacy for Alderwoman Rhonda Adams' soon-to-be-vacant Ward 4 City Council seat.

Emery, a staff member at the Washington County Animal Shelter and an Air Force veteran, ran for City Council in 2012 and lost to Alan Long, the council's other Ward 4 alderman, in a run-off election.

Fayetteville City Council

Ward 4, Position 1

Name: Mike Emery

Age: 45

Residency: Fayetteville resident for more than seven years

Family: Married, no children

Employment: Administrative assistant and media relations manager, Washington County Animal Shelter

Education: Studied broadcast journalism and political science at the University of Oklahoma

Military Experience: Sergeant, Air Force, 10 years active duty

Political Experience: None

Source: Staff Report

Emery said, if elected, he'll advocate for safe neighborhoods, community involvement and green initiatives.

"Fayetteville is a unique city with an outstanding quality of life," he said. "I want to see Fayetteville move forward while keeping the charm that has caused so many people to call this city home.

"There is a great deal of compassion, inclusion and understanding here. These qualities provide a great deal of potential for a forward thinking city."

Emery is vice chairman of the Fayetteville Housing Authority Board and a member of the city's Environmental Action Committee.

Fredia Sawin, the Housing Authority's executive director, said Tuesday that Emery has been a great board member and would make an excellent City Council member.

"Anything we've wanted him to do, he's been right there," Sawin said.

Ward 4 encompasses a wide swath of west Fayetteville, including the Pratt Place Inn, Holt Middle School, Holcomb Elementary School, Razorback Golf Course, the city's West Side Wastewater Treatment Facility and the Boys & Girls Club of Fayetteville.

Adams, who won her contest for the council's Ward 4, Position 1 seat against Jeff Dickey in 2010, said earlier this month she intends to step down when her term ends Dec. 31. Adams plans to move to Tampa, Fla., where her husband, Charles, has accepted a job as dean of the Honors College at the University of South Florida.

The official filing period for municipal candidates in the Nov. 4 general election begins July 25.

Other candidates who have said they're running for City Council are Alderwoman Adella Gray and Sonia Davis Gutierrez, an educator and graphic designer, in Ward 1; Alderman Mark Kinion in Ward 2; and Alderman Justin Tennant in Ward 3.

Fayetteville's city attorney position, held by Kit Williams, will also appear on the Nov. 4 ballot.

NW News on 06/18/2014